Vol. 20(12) December 2016
Optimization of media for maximal lipid deposition
from filamentous fungi using response surface methodology
Madonna Shalma S., Ranjitha J. and Vijayalakshmi S.
In this study, the effect of various physical and chemical
parameters on the lipid production from filamentous fungi Aspergillus niger (GenBank:
KP001169) was studied using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). From one-factor-at-a-time
(OFAT) experiments results, the most significant variables that influenced the high
lipid and biomass production were identified and then studied by Plackett- Burman
method. Among the 8 variables, it was observed from the pareto chart that glucose,
lysine and pH were the most important variables that affect lipid accumulation and
biomass production in Aspergillus niger and their significant interactions involved
were further investigated by RSM. The optimum concentrations required for high lipid
accumulation and biomass production were glucose 125 g/l and lysine 0.5% at pH 6.
Higher coefficient of determination of 0.9910 and 0.9535 for lipid accumulation
and biomass production respectively by RSM indicate higher modelling ability of
this methodology in medium optimization.
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Genome Template Stability Variation in Soybean Seedlings
irrigated with groundwater through ISSR Marker
Hala M. Abdelmigid and Sanaa M.F. Gad El Rab
Several PCR based markers were developed and applied
to assess the genetic variation among populations and genetic resources. In this
study, an attempt has been made to identify the effect of groundwater through the
application of ISSR as molecular marker to detect genome template stability variation
in soybean plants irrigated with groundwater samples. DNA polymorphism/damage became
evident as the presence and/or absence of DNA fragments in the test samples. The
ISSR patterns showed remarkable variations between groundwater irrigated seedlings
and control with apparent changes in the number and size of amplified DNA fragments.
Changes in the ISSR patterns are expressed as decreases in genome template stability
(GTS), a qualitative measure reflecting the change in the number of ISSR profiles
generated by groundwater treatment, in relation to profiles obtained from the non-treated
seedlings. The results indicated the general tendency of decrease in GTS values
with exposure to groundwater. Consequently, ISSR profile analysis in conjunction
with the evaluation of GTS % would prove a powerful eco-toxicological tool. Thus,
DNA polymorphisms detected using ISSR analysis could be used as an investigation
tool for environmental toxicology and as a useful biomarker assay that can be used
as an early warning system. As a source for domestic and irrigation water, a special
attention should be paid to the potential of groundwater contamination. Continuous
assessment of well water quality on routine basis is imperative to reduce the deterioration
of well water quality and eliminate health problems.
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Effect of silicate application on the release pattern
of nitrogen from Typic Ustochrepts soils in India by using Alkaline KMnO4 Extraction
Malav Jugal K. and Ramani V.P.
An incubation experiment was conducted to study the release
pattern of nitrogen and silicon from native soil and applied sources viz. ammonium
sulphate and calcium silicate. The treatments consist of four levels of nitrogen
viz. 0, 75, 100 and 125 kg ha-1 and four levels of silicon viz. 0, 200, 400 and
600 kg ha-1 of soil. Seven sets of plastic cup con`sist of 32 numbers in each set
to accommodate 16 treatments with 2 replications under factorial completely randomized
design for 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 days duration of incubation. With the advancement
in time, the N availability was decreased in case of 75, 100 and 125 kg ha-1 rate
of application. Either in presence or absence of Si the decreased trend in availability
was noticed with the time. However, a little higher N was noticed at 21 days incubation,
thereafter a slight decline in available N content was observed up to 42 days. In
general, the N availability was higher due to Si application. The maximum available
Si content in soil was observed due to 600 kg Si ha-1 at 14 days after incubation.
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Antioxidant effect of isolated bioactive flavonoids
on Ipomoea carnea
Shakila K.
Fresh flowers of Ipomoea carnea have been examined for
their bioactive flavonoids. This plant is specifically known for its bounteous potential
as an Anti-Inflammatory Activity, Antioxidant Activity, Antidiabetic Activity, Antimicrobial
Activity, Wound Healing Activity, Immunomodulatory Activity, Cardiovascular Activity,
Embryotoxic effect, Antifungal Activity, Hepatoprotective Activity, Inhibition Activity
and Anxiolytic Properties. The present study deals with Lipid peroxidation (LP)
induced two drugs, ceftizoxime sodium (CZX), and a third-generation cephalosporin
antibiotic. The major phytochemicals such as flavonol Kaempferol, flavonol glycoside
astragalin associated with the bioactivity of I. carnea have been characterized.
which have been discussed in this study too.
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Response of Ocimum sanctum L to varying Mercuric chloride
stress
Bajpai Shukla Monika, Gupta Neha, Kaushik Suresh, Sinha Vimlendu Bhushan and Majumdar
Rita Singh
We have analysed the biochemical response of Ocimum sanctum
L. with varying mercuric chloride concentrations (0, 1, 5, 10, 20 µM) for phytoremediation
of Hg contaminated soils. Superoxide radical generation, the rate of hydrogen peroxide
production, lipid peroxidation, levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT),
ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and glutathione reductase (GR), non-protein thiol (NPT),
proline, ascorbic acid fluctuations and glutathione were studied and the impacts
of varying mercuric chloride concentration on ROS were accessed. The results indicate
significant increase in superoxide ion, hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde production
with highest values observed in 20 µM treatments. SOD, APX and CAT gradually increased
with increasing mercuric chloride concentration and in general highest value was
observed for 20 µM treatment compared to that of control. GR activity was not enhanced
in the tested concentration but revealed a sharp decreasing trend. Proline, NPT,
ascorbate and glutathione were not greatly enhanced but were in accordance with
the previous reports. In order to support the data obtained for the enzymatic and/or
non-enzymatic assays, accumulation of mercury in leaves was observed using ICPMS
which validated maximum accumulation in 20 μM concentration. All these results strongly
put forward the overlooked potential of Ocimum sanctum L. as mercury tolerant species.
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Termitomyces species documented from Western Ghats
of Karnataka (India): Molecular characterization and Nutritional diversity
Earanna N. and Prabhu K.N.
Western ghats of India comprise of evergreen, grass land,
moist deciduous and dry deciduous forests. High rain fall and humid weather during
monsoon season provide favorable climatic conditions for setting up of mushrooms
and complete their life cycle. Termitomyces make their appearance after heavy rain
and grow in contact with termite nests in forest and grass land soils. In this study,
six mushrooms were collected from different regions of Western Ghats forests of
Karnataka during rainy season and identified as Termitomyces sp.-1, Termitomyces
sp.-2, Termitomyces sp-3, Termitomyces sp-4, T. clypiatus and T. microcorpus by
using 18S rRNA /ITS gene sequence. Further, these mushrooms were analyzed for their
protein and mineral contents. Termitomyces species, in general had higher percentage
of protein (26.17% to 31.91%) when compared to cultivated Agaraicus bisporus (24.83%)
and Pleurotus florida (24.85%). The protein content of the fruiting bodies of Termitomyces
sp-2, T. clypiatus, T. microcorpus, Termitomyces sp.-1, 3 and 4 was 31.91%, 31.06%,
30.60% , 27.54%, 26.17% and 26.72 % respectively. Similarly, Ca, Fe, Mg and Zn content
varied with the species. Maximum Ca and Mg contents were observed in Termitomyces
sp.-1, and Zn content in T. microcorpus.
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Kinetics and Surface studies on Biosorption of Cr
(VI) by using dead Fungal Biomass from Chromium Mine Waste, Sukinda, India
Barwa Arti Manorama, Panda Swati Sucharita, Basu Aradhana and Dhal Nabin Kumar
Biosorption of hexavalent chromium from aqueous solution
was carried out in batch experiments using dead biomass of fungal strain isolated
from chromites mine waste. A total of 45 strains were screened for the Cr (VI) tolerance
and fourteen strains showed maximum tolerance up to 500 ppm. All the potent strains
were studied for their sorption capacity and the strain CMW 7 showed maximum efficiency
at 98.8 %. Indigenous isolates showed a considerable enhancement in Cr (VI) biosorption
efficiency through adaptation and consortia development. The removal rate of Cr
(VI) increased with a decrease in pH or with increase in biomass concentrations.
Adsorption of Cr was further substantiated by Field emission scanning electron microscopy
and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy indicated an accumulation of chromium in
the fungal mycelium. The Langmuir model fitted well with the experimental data obtained
at pH 2 supporting the mechanism of redox reaction. From the 28S rDNA sequencing,
it was identified that the fungal strain CMW 7 belongs to Aspergillus niger strain
SF-6095 (GenBank Accession Number: KM458638.1). The study suggested that the abundant
and inexpensive dead fungal biomass can be used as a potential agent for the remediation
of toxic Cr (VI).
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