Studies on seed-borne mycoflora and aflatoxin B1 contaminations in food based seed samples: Molecular detection of mycotoxigenic Aspergillus flavus and their management.

In the present study the mould incidence, ergosterol and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) contaminations were evaluated in different food based seed samples viz., chickpea, cowpea, green gram, groundnut, Indian bean, maize, sorghum, soya bean and sunflower collected from different agro-climatic regions of Karnataka (India). The agar plate and standard blotter methods were employed for determination of the fungal incidence, and the ergosterol and AFB1 contents were estimated qualitatively and quantitatively by TLC and spectrophotometric methods. For detection of aflatoxigenic isolates of A. flavus, the target gene specific primer aflR-F and aflR-R were used in PCR amplification. The antifungal and antiaflatoxigenic activities of some selected edible vegetable extracts were evaluated by measuring mycelial dry weight and AFB1 content. The results revealed that 15 diverse fungal species belonging to 11 genera were observed. Among the seed samples analyzed, the highest fungal incidence, ergosterol and AFB1 were observed in sorghum samples followed by maize and chickpea. The PCR amplification showed positive results only for aflatoxigenic isolates of A. flavus and no amplification was observed in nonaflatoxigenic isolates and A. flavus isolate-2 produced highest AFB1, showed 99 similarity with an authenticated aflatoxigenic A. flavus isolate emb|FN398161.1|. The aqueous extract of Amorphophallus campanulatus showed highest antifungal and antiaflatoxigenic activities. The results confirmed that the ergosterol and AFB1 contents were correlated with the percent mould incidences. © All Rights Reserved

Evaluation of antimicrobial activity of root extract of Asclepias curassavica

The plants belonging to the Asclepiadaceae family has very high medicinal property. Asclepias curassavica is one such plant which comes under Asclepiadaceae family. In the present study the effect of  plant root extract of different solvents were screened against three bacteria and three fungi for their level of antimicrobial potential.To determine the compounds present that may produce an inhibitory effect on different classes of bacteria and fungi. Thin layer chromatography was used to assay for the compounds present and further these compounds were eluted through Column Chromatography.The crude extracts of petroleum ether, chloroform and methanol and two pure fractions obtained from methanol extract were tested for their antimicrobial property. The crude extract of chloroform was effective against Pseudomonas solanacearum and Escherichia coli than other extracts. The crude extract of methanol was effective against Clavibacter michiganense than other extracts. Compound 1 of methanol extract is effective than compound 2 against Pseudomonas solanacearum and compound 2 is effective than compound 1 against Clavibacter michiganense and Escherichia coli. The crude extract of chloroform was more effective against Aspergillus niger than Helminthosporium oryzae and Fusarium oxysporum. Whereas the petroleum ether and methanol extract has no antifungal property

Effect of fungal biosorbed and nonbiosorbed copper and zinc metal solutions on growth and metal uptake of leguminous plants

Effect of Zn, Cu and Cu + Zn at 10, 25, 50, 100, 200 and 500ppm concentrations of fungal untreated and treated metal solutions on seed germination and seedling vigor of Cicer areietinum (Chick pea), Macrotyloma uniflorum (Horse gram), Vigna radiata (Green gram) and Vigna unguiculata (Cowpea) were evaluated. Heavy metal solutions were prepared in increasing concentration up to the concentration critical to the soil. Increased metal concentrations reduced the seed germination and growth of test plants. Low metal concentrations of 10, 25, 50 ppm, stimulated the shoot, root and seed germination in test plants. Untreated and treated effluent was not acutely toxic to the seed germination and plant growth. In Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus biosorbed metal ions, reduced metal toxicity with increased seedling vigor was observed. Efficiency of metal biosorption by fungal biomass and metal ions tolerance and accumulation ability in test plants were analyzed by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS).  Â

1-(2-Hy­droxy-5-methyl­phen­yl)-3-(2-methyl­phen­yl)prop-2-en-1-one

In the title compound, C17H16O2, the dihedral angle between the aromatic rings is 5.12 (13)° and an intra­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bond generates an S(6) ring

Evaluation of antimicrobial property of Spirogyra species

Spirogyra species is an important genus of filamentous green algae (Chlorophyta) in showing its antimicrobial activity against number of bacteria and fungi. In present study the effect of Petroleum ether, methanol and chloroform extract of Spirogyra species was screened against three bacteria and three plant pathogenic fungi for their level of antimicrobial potential. Thin layer chromatography was used to assay for the compounds and pure fractions obtained were tested for their antimicrobial property and were found to be effective on the entire test organism except for Clavibacter sp. and Curvularia sp.Â

Antimicrobial property of bioactive factor isolated from Parmelia perlata

Parmelia is previously mentioned in India Materia Medica as a treatment for a number of ailments and hence they are being used in large quantities as a food supplement in India. The crude hot extracts of Parmelia perlata and the isolated compounds were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity. The antibacterial activity of Parmelia perlata crude hot extracts revealed that the extracts showed significant effect against Clavibacter michiganensis (33 ± 0.06), moderate against Pseudomonas solanacearum (33 ± 0.32) and less potent against Escherichia coli (28 ± 0.10) when compared to the standard drug Streptomycin. The Fusarium oxysporum (26 ± 0.38) and Rhizopus nigricans (20 ± 0.06) were more susceptibility to wards the treatment of hot extracts, whereas Aspergillus niger (18 ± 0.15)  demonstrated less susceptibility to crude hot extracts, but stardard antifungal drug bavistin was potent against all the fungal pathogens used in the study. Compound-I and compound-II isolated from the crude extract of Parmelia perlata showed efficient antibacterial activity. The antibacterial activity of compound-II was significant against to Clavibacter michiganensis (22 ± 0.17) and Pseudomonas solanacearum (44 ± 0.21), but less against to Escherichia coli (11 ± 0.17). Compound-I were more active against Pseudomonas solanacearum (31 ± 0.06) and moderately active against Clavibacter michiganensis (28 ± 0.05) and less active against to Escherichia coli (21 ± 0.23) when compared to Streptomycin. The antifungal activity of compound-II was better than compound-I. Compound-II was significant against Fusarium oxysporum (40 ± 0.05), Rhizopus nigricans (27 ± 0.02) and less active against to Aspergillus niger (18 ± 0.02) than compared to compound-I. The compound-I did not impotent against Aspergillus niger. The present investigation indicated that the crude hot extracts and the isolated compounds of Parmelia perlata have potential antimicrobial property.Â

Acid and enzyme hydrolysis to convert pretreated areca nut (areca catechu l.) husk into glucose for bioethanol production by yeasts and Zymomonas mobilis NCIM 2915

Production of renewable fuels, especially bio-ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass, holds remarkable potential to meet the current energy demand as well as to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions for a sustainable environment. Determining optimal pretreatment techniques for fermentation is essential for the success of lignocellulosic energy production process. The study involved the acid pretreatment and use of laccase enzyme to degrade the complex lignocellulosic biomass to simple sugars. Sugars so formed in turn are converted to ethanol by employing suitable yeast strains and bacterium Zymomonas mobilis. Different fermentation process like separate hydrolysis and fermentation process (SHF) and simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process (SSF) have been evaluated for the biethanol production. In separate hydrolysis and fermentation process, the higher ethanol production was in Zymomonas mobilis (44.97±3.21 g/L) and Schizosaccharomyces pombe (42.60±3.0 g/L), average ethanol production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (33.13±1.96 g/L) and very low ethanol production in Candida shehatae (25.24±2.30 g/L). In simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process, the higher ethanol production was in Zymomonas mobilis (47.34±3.22 g/L) and Saccharomyces uvarum (44.18±2.67 g/L), average ethanol production in Pichia stipitis (34.71±1.89 g/L), and very low ethanol production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (26.82±2.63 g/L) was monitored after the fermentation process. Structural changes of areca nut husk before and after acid pretreatment were further investigated through Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Hence, acid and enzymatic pre-treatment is more effective for ethanol production. Areca nut husk was revealed as a suitable substrate for ethanol production.Â

ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI ASSOCIATED WITH SOME PLANTS OF ASTERACEAE IN BHADRA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

ABSTRACT: Ten herbaceous plants belonging to Asteraceae were investigated for AM fungal association in Bhadra Wildlife sanctuary. Ten species of AM fungi of the genus Glomus, Acaulospora and Archeospora were recorded. Among the genera, Glomus occurred most frequently. Percentage of root colonization and population of spores of AM fungi were recorded in different plants. The maximum number of AM fungal spore population and root colonization was found in Parthenium hysterophorus and Melampodium sp. The minimum number of spore population and percentage of colonization was found in Tridax procumbens. Host plant influences the AM fungal diversity

GENETIC ANALYSIS OF RICE (Oryza sativa L.) GENOTYPES UNDER WET DIRECT SEEDING SITUATION

Present investigation was carried out with 35 rice genotypes under wet direct seeding condition at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Jagtial, PJTSAU, Telangana during kharif, 2016. High GCV and PCV values for important yield contributing traits viz., 1000 grain weight (24.41, 24.62) and number of grains per panicle (26.17, 29.30) were observed. High heritable and genetic advance values for 1000 grain weight (98.30, 49.86) and number of grains per panicle (79.80, 48.16) indicated the role of additive genes and these traits can be improved by simple selections. Effective bearing tillers/M2 recorded low values of heritability (25.40) and genetic advance (5.19) suggesting the exploitation of heterosis for improvement of this important yield character. Effective bearing tillers/M2, plant height and panicle length exhibited significant correlations with yield in desirable direction, hence direct selection for these traits could improve the yield. Highest inter cluster distance was observed between clusters IV and VI (27.75) followed by III and VI (24.69), IV and V (22.34) and III and V (22.23) thus high heterotic hybrids can be developed by making crosses between genotypes of the clusters. 1000 grain weight (44.2%) contributed highest towards total divergence followed by days to 50% flowering (40.17%) and plant height (10.76). cluster II and IV recorded lowest means for plant height and hence genotypes from these clusters can be used as parents for development of dwarf varieties desirable for wet direct seeding condition

HEAVY METALS ACCUMULATION POTENCY OF ASPERGILLUS NIGER AND ASPERGILLUS FLAVUS INDIGENOUS TO PAPER MILL EFFLUENT

This study aimed to reduce Cu2+, Zn2+, Cr6+, Cd2+, Ni2+ and Pb2 heavy metals present in effluent and aqueous medium using Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus isolated from paper mill effluent. Physicochemical content for untreated and treated paper mill effluent was analyzed. 6 heavy metals on fungal growth, morphology and uptake were studied. A.niger tolerated and accumulated up to 1000ppm Pb followed by Cu (500ppm), Zn (250ppm) and Cr, Ni (100ppm). Aspergillus flavus tolerated and accumulated up to 1000ppm of Pb, Zn, Ni and 100ppm of Cu. At 100ppm concentration A.niger showed high Pb (75%) uptake followed by Zn (49%), Cu (45%), Cr (41%) and Ni (25%). A.flavus accumulated metals in the order of Pb (82%), Zn (40%), Cu (34%), and Ni (18%). Significant reduction in Cd, Zn, and Pb heavy metals was reported in untreated industrial effluent inoculated with A.niger and A.flavus biomass with respect to industrial treated effluent. &nbsp