Journal of Applied and Natural Science
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Impact of industrial wastes on the water quality of tropical river, Ami (India)
Get PDFIndustries discharge their effluents which are rich in solids, may it be in the form of TSS or TDS. These solids affect the other physicochemical parameters of the water body. Present study deals with the investigation of seasonal variation and statistical analyses of the selected parameters, in river Ami, in light of the industrial effluents. The study records that summer season, appears to be the most polluted, that is during the period when the river carries little amount of water. Statistical analysis showed that all the physicochemical parameters were positively correlated except TDS and temperature
Isolation, screening of Aspergillus flavus and its production parameters for á- amylase under solid state fermentation
Get PDFThe amylase producing fungi were isolated from spoiled fruits, vegetables and soil, in and around Bangalore, Karnataka, India. The isolates were identified and five fungal species were screened. The best amylase producer among them, Aspergillus sp was selected for enzyme production by both sub merged fermentation using mineral salt medium (MSM) and solid state fermentations using wheat bran as a solid substrate. The various parameters influencing solid state fermentation were optimized. The most important factors are such as pH, incubation temperature, incubation period, carbon sources, nitrogen sources and moisture content. The maximum amount of enzyme production was obtained when solid state fermentation was carried out with soluble starch as carbon source and beef extract (1% each) as nitrogen source, optimum conditions of pH 7.0, an incubation temperature of 25 (±2) °C, incubation time 96 h and 62% moisture content
Molluscan Fauna of Surha Tal, District - Ballia (U. P.), India
Get PDFDiversity of molluscan fauna of Surha Tal, district Ballia (U.P.) was studied during 2006-08.Twenty species of molluscs were collected. Of these, fourteen species of six genera belong to class Gastropoda, families Viviparidae, Pilidae, Thiaridae, Lymnaeidae and Planorbidae; six species belonging to three genera are of families of the class Bivalvia; Unionidae, Amblemidae and Corbiculidae
Screening of Rhizobacteria for their plant growth promotion abilities and their interaction with Rhizobium of Mung bean
Get PDFPhosphorus deficiency is a major constraint for crop production. The beneficial microorganisms in the soil convert insoluble phosphorus into soluble form for plant growth and also prevents their leaching in to water bodies. In present investigation seventy two (72) rhizobacterial isolates were obtained from Mungbean rhizospheric soil on King’s B medium, from various locations near Jodhpur. All the isolates were screened for their ability to solubilize insoluble phosphate on Pikovskaya’s medium, nitrogen fixation and auxin like substance production. Four isolates were able to solubilize phosphate ranging from 42.69 ?g TCP/ml to 90.10 ?g TCP/ml. Total fifty eight (80.55%) isolates out of seventy two rhizobacteria were able to fix atmospheric nitrogen in vitro. Rhizobacterial isolates that were able to fix environmental nitrogen and solubilize phosphate were screened for auxin like substance production. Two isolates were able to produce auxin like substances at lower amount. Among all the rhizobacterial isolates screened for their influence on rhizobial growth in vitro, twenty three (31.94%) isolates stimulated the growth of Mung bean Rhizobium. The diameter of zone of stimulation varied from 6.0 mm (MrbIV 14) to 16.5 mm (MrbII 05 and MrbIII 16) and maximum stimulation was shown by MrbIII 10 (17.5 mm). However, thirty two (44.44%) isolates were neutral to the growth of Mung bean Rhizobium
Assessment of long-term production traits of three breeds of exotic commercial layers in the derived Savannah zone of Nigeria
Get PDFThis study was carried out to compare production traits of three breeds of exotic commercial layers for a production period of 15 months. The breeds are Isa Brown (IB), Bovan Nera (BN) and Dominant Black (DB) and the traits considered are hen-day egg production, feed efficiency and mortality rate. The general means are 5.24eggs/ bird/week, 0.006/bird/week and 0.16/breed/week for egg production, feed efficiency and mortality rate, respectively. There was highly significant (P<0.01) effect of breed on egg production and feed efficiency but the reverse was the case for mortality rate. On egg production, IB genotype recorded 5.37+0.07 eggs/bird/week while BN breed had 5.41+0.08 eggs/bird/week and the values were similar but superior to DB genotype with 4.94eggs/bird/week. For feed efficiency, IB and BN breeds recorded higher mean values and were similar but superior to DB genotype. The mean values are: IB=0.006+9.05x10-5, BN=0.006+8.53x10-5 and DB=0.005/bird/week. Breed’s effect on mortality rate showed that the three genotypes had similar values, that is, breed has no significant (P>0.05) effect on this trait. There was highly significant (P<0.01) effect of age of birds on egg production. Age 2 (2nd month) recorded the highest mean values while age 14 (14th month) was the lowest. The values respectively, are 6.04+0.16 eggs/bird/week and 4.18+0.16 eggs/bird/week. In addition, there was highly significant (P<0.01) effect of age of birds on feedefficiency regardless of the breed of birds. Age 2 (2nd month) recorded the highest mean values and age 14 (14th month) the lowest. There was also highly significant (P<0.01) effect of age on mortality rate of commercial layers. The long-term production analyses showed that IB and BN genotypes are more productive, feed efficient and could be recommended to farmers as commercially viable breeds of layers
Photoperiod-induced clock-shifting in the circadian protein and amino acid rhythms in the larval fat body of silkworm, Bombyx mori
Get PDFThe photoperiod-induced clock-shifting in the free running time of the circadian protein and amino acid rhythms was studied in the larval fat body of Bombyx mori. The analysis of peaks and troughs of phase response curves of the rhythm revealed that the fourth and fifth instar larvae grown under normal 12 h light and 12 h dark cycle (LD) showed 7 protein synthetic cycles, while those reared under continuous light (LL) recorded 9.5 cycles in fourth instar and 8 in fifth instar. Under continuous dark (DD), the protein rhythm maintained 8 cycles in fourth instar and 7.5 cycles in fifth instar. Clearly, both LL and DD conditions advance the 24-h free running time of the protein rhythm by durations ranging from 1.6 to 6.5 h. Comparative analysis of protein and amino acid rhythms shows that the photoperiod modulates the free running time of the former by altering the rate of amino acid mobilization
On the fundamentals of natural history and present threats to Red-wattled Lapwing in Kurukshetra environs
No full textRed-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus is a very common bird seen on the periphery of Kurukshetra-Thanesar, twin towns, in agriculture fields. Last 28 years of keen observations reveal the fast coming up threats to its populations. The current populations are a quarter only of the level that existed in 1980s. Most visible threat has been caused by HUDA (Haryana Urban Development Authority). It has virtually converted the peripheral agriculture fields in Kurukshetra into so called HUDA-Sectors -new Human dwelling places with ultra modern civic amenities with vast open space with no protection or peace for lapwing populations- diminishing its populations to the present deplorable position. It has been observed to segregate into very strong male-female pairs during breeding season which embarks upon with respect to the first or second week of April, culminating in nest building and laying of eggs in the 4 th week of April through May and 4 th week of June. Juveniles were seen first in May last week. A total of 25 nests of the bird were surveyed in the breeding season during April to July 2010. The clutch size ranged from 3-4. Out of 25 nests surveyed, 13 nests were having 4 eggs each and 11 nests 3 eggs as in 2010. Also, only one nest was found with two eggs. Further, in all 87 eggs were laid in 25 nests, out of which 53 eggs hatched successfully. The eggs were mosaic colored with pied patterns- a measure of “Camouflaging” to evade attack of predators including Common Pariah Kite Milvus migrans, House Crow Corvus splendens, Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis and Stray dogs. Eggs on ground always confronted a threat from pedestrians
Studies on changes in hematological and biochemical parameters in smokeless tobacco (Gutka) chewing auto drivers in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh, India
Get PDFThe present study was designed to evaluate the effect of Smokeless tobacco on some biochemical and haematological parameters. It was observed that hematological parameters of Autodrivers including hemoglobin content, white blood cell and leukocyte counts were higher in Gutka consumers than in controls, where as monocytes and basophils counts were lower. Higher biochemical parameters like serum cholesterol, glucose and protein were observed in blood samples of Gutka consumers. Decrease in serum protein levels and remarkable increase in Serum cholesterol and glucose levels were observed in Gutka consumers when compared to controls. There existed considerable difference among different hematological and biochemical parameters of gutka chewers when compared to controls
A review on the role of soil microbial biomass in eco-restoration of degraded ecosystem with special reference to mining areas
Get PDFSoil microbial biomass constitutes a transformation matrix for all the natural organic material in the soil and acts as labile reservoir of plant available nutrients. In general plants serve as carbon source for the microbial community and in turn microbes provide nutrients for growth through mineralization of plant and animal residues, and organic matter, thus soil microbial biomass is a significant parameter to draw an inference about the soil health. Biodiversity of visible plants and animals has received a greater attention than the meso or micro level organisms. Information about soil microbial biomass can help to quantify the extant of degradation and may help to provide the effective methodology for the restoration in the degraded terrestrial ecosystems. As the changing global climate has been one of the major environmental challenges facing the world today, there is an increasing need to restore the degraded ecosystem, increase their productivity, to increase the carbon sequestration potential of such areas and to make them suitable for the sustainable forestry purposes. This review provides the importance of soil microbial biomass in the derelict mined ecosystems and suggests that an increase in microbial biomass in the soil may enhance the soil fertility, and provide an effective substrate for the nutrient mineralization
Evaluation of mutagenic potential of acetamiprid by dominant lethal test on Culex quinquefasciatus
Get PDFAcetamiprid, a member of the neonicotinoid insecticide family, is a new class of insecticide which has recently entered the market place. It is very selective and provides outstanding control of sucking pests such as aphids and whiteflies of major crops. In the present investigation, dominant lethal test (DLT) is adopted for the evaluation of the genotoxic effects of acetamiprid using Culex quinquefasciatus as an experimental model. In this experiment, the males hatched from larvae treated with LD40 were cross mated with normal females and the results were based on the number of hatched and unhatched eggs laid by these females. The statistical analysis of the results for LD40 treated groups gave the values of 37.526±3.886 as against 5.23±0.77 from the nontreated groups which indicated significant dominant lethality of p<0.01. These results indicated that exposure of pesticides even at small dose level proved deleterious to the genome of mosquito and its subsequent generation