ID: 54742
Title: Microbial transformation of (+)-heraclenin by Aspergillus niger and evaluation of its antiplasmodial and antimicrobial activities
Author: P Mangala Gowri, K Haribabu, Hara Kishore, O Manjusha, Sukla Biswas and U S N Murty
Editor: P Balaram
Year: 2011
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 100, No 11, 10 June 2011
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Aspergillus niger, antiplamodial and antimicrobial acitivity, furanocoumarin, microbial transformation
Abstract: Microbial transformation of (+)-heraclenin (1) by Aspergillus niger was studied in growth media to assess its antiplasmodial and antimicrobial activities. It was transformed to (-)-heraclenol (2) as the sole product in a sterospecific manner. The in vitro antiplasmodial activity of compounds 1 and 2 was tested with chloroquine-sensitive and chloroquine-resistant strains of Plasmosium falciparum. Further, the in vitro antibacterial activity of 1 and 2 against three Gram positive bacteria, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus sphaericus and Staphylococcus aureus, and three Gram-negative bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Chromobacterium violaceum was analysed using agar-plate diffusion assay. The same method was employed for the evaluation of antifungal activity against five pathogenic strains of fungi, A. niger, Rhizopus oryzae, Aspergillus flavus, Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Both furanocoumarins 1 and 2 displayed significant levels of antiplasmodial and moderate levels of antimicrobial activities against the tested pathogenic strains. Compound 2 exhibited two-fold less potent antiplasmodial activity (IC50 = 6.0?g/ml) than the parent compound (IC50 = 2.5?g/ml), whereas no difference was observed in the antimicrobial activity of both furanocoumarins. The oxirane ring was found to be beneficial in terms of antiplasmodial activity.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 54741
Title: Fungal community associated with Arctic moss, Tetraplodon mimoides and its rhizosphere: bioprospecting for production of industrially useful enzymes
Author: Puja Gawas-Sakhalkar and Shiv Mohan Singh
Editor: P Balaram
Year: 2011
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 100, No 11, 10 June 2011
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Bioprospecting, cold-adapted enzyme, fungal diversity, rhizosphere
Abstract: Fungal community associated with terrestrial Arctic moss. Tetraplodon mimoides was studied by examining fresh thallus tissue and adhered soil. The study resulted in the isolation of 46 microfungi belonging to 20 species in 12 genera. These included seven non-sporulating morphotypes. To the best of our knowledge, species such as Botrytis verrucosa, Mortierella simplex, M. schmuckeri, Penicillium frequentans, P. rugulosum and Cladosporium chlorocephalum are new records to the study region. All isolates were tested for production of cold-adapted amylase, pectinase, cellulase, esterase, protease, phosphatase and urease. The cultures showed varying degrees of enzyme production, with two cultures producing all seven enzymes. The present study helps in understanding the fungal diversity associated with plants growing in extreme habitats.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 54740
Title: Habitat enrichment and its impact on avian diversity: a study at GBPIHED, Koshi -Katarmal, Uttarakhand, India
Author: Sharat Kumar Palita, Aditya V Ponkshe and Uppeander Dhar
Editor: P Balaram
Year: 2011
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 100, No 11, 10 June 2011
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Avian diversity, frugivory, habitat enrichment, homogenization, urbanization
Abstract: This study deals with the influence of habitat enrichment through landscape heterogeneity on avian diversity in suburban habitat (human habitat) versus pine forest and open exposed shrub land (non-human habitat) at the G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development (GBPIHED) campus (1100-1250 m asl), Kosi-katarmal, Almora, Uttarakhand, India. Bird diversity on fruiting plants was also studied to know the occurrence and richness of fruit plants on overall bird diversity. The study area, which consisted of the then degraded gentle slopes, has transformed into thick vegetation cover due to plantation of a large number of fruit and ornamental plants. Line transect and stationary point count methods were followed during the entire study. Out of a total of 61 bird species observed, 28 are new reports from the study site. The human habitat has a higher avian species richness (S=50) in comparison to non-human habitat (S=44). A singificantly higher density of Jungle Myna, Common Myna and Red-billed Blue Magpie in suburban habitat, and restricted distribution of House Sparrow and Blue Rock Pigeon in the same habitat may be due to availability of high feeding and nesting opportunities. Increase in the number of human-associated species in suburban habitat indicates progressive urbanization of the area. However, lack of significant difference in Shannon diversity index between the two habitats indicates that homogenization due to urbanization is still at a low level.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 54739
Title: Biodrainage to combact waterlogging, increase farm productivity and sequester carbon in canal command areas of northwest India
Author: J Ram, J C Dagar, Khajanchi Lal, G Singh, O P Toky, V S Tanwar, S R Dar and M K Chauhan
Editor: P Balaram
Year: 2011
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 100, No 11, 10 June 2011
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Agroforestry, biodrainage, carbon sequestration, Eucalyptus tereticornis, waterlogging
Abstract: Rise in groundwater table followed by waterlogging and secondary soil salinization is a serious problem in canal-irrigated areas of arid and semi-arid regions. To combat the problem, an agroforestry model for biodrainage was tested in waterlogged fields of Haryana (northwest India), where 10% area (0.44 m ha) is waterlogged resulting in reduced crop yields and abandonment of agricultural lands. In this model, four parallel strip-plantations of clonal Eucalyptus tereticornis (Mysure gum) were raised in December 2002 on four ridges constructed in the north-south direction in 4.8 ha canal-irrigated waterlogged fields of farmers. The strip-plantations were spaced at 66 m and each strip-plantation contained two rows of trees at a spacing of 1m x 1m, resulting in a density of 300 plants ha-1. Levels of groundwater table were measured over 3 years (April 2005-April 2008) in 22 observation wells installed in two transects across the strip-plantations. The groundwater table underneath the strip-plantations remained lower than that in the adjacent fields and the drawndown in groundwater table was 0.85 m in 3 years. The annual rate of transpiration by 240 surviving trees per ha was 268 mm annum-1 against the mean annual rainfall of 212 mm. The strip -plantations sequestered 15.5 t ha-1 carbon during the first rotation of 5 years and 4 months. Benefit-cost ratio of the first rotation of strip-plantations was 3.5:1 and it would be many folds for next 3 to 4 rotations due to negligible cost of coppiced Eucalyptus. Wheat yield (April 2008) in the interspace of strip-plantations was 3.4 times that in adjacent waterlogged areas without plantation. It was mainly because of lowering of the water table and improvement in soil properties.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 54738
Title: Urban floods in Bangalore and Chennai: risk management challenges and lessons for sustainable urban ecology
Author: Anil K Gupta and Sreeja S Nair
Editor: P Balaram
Year: 2011
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 100, No 11, 10 June 2011
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Bangalore, Chennai, cities, floods, urban ecology, wetlands
Abstract: A number of major cities and towers in India reported a series of devastating urban floods in the recent decade. Mumbai flood 2005 followed by other major cities of South Asia like Dhaka, Islamabad, Rawalpindi also suffered with urban flooding. Census 2001 figured 285 million people in 35 metro cities of India, and is estimated to cross 600 million with 100 metro cities in 2021. Regional ecological challenges coupled with climatic variability are noted to aggravate flood risks and impact on affected communities. Urban flooding was primarily a concern of municipal and environmental goverance, has now attained the status of ' disaster ' , which has drawn the attention of environmental scientists and disaster managers. Challenges of urban flooding in terms of drainage and flood mitigation including structural and non-structural measures and key issues of urban ecology in two major metropolitan cites of India-Bangalore and Chennai, have been studied. Risk management challenges in the context of land-use, city and population growth, wetland degeneration, waste disposal have been discussed.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 54737
Title: Recent landslides in Uttarakhand: nature ' s fury or human folly
Author: S P Sati, Y P Sundriyal, Naresh Rana and Surekha Dangwal
Editor: P Balaram
Year: 2011
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 100, No 11, 10 June 2011
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: None
Abstract: None
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 54736
Title: Rain-fed agriculture could meet the challenges of food security in India
Author: K D Sharma
Editor: P Balaram
Year: 2011
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 100, No 11, 10 June 2011
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: National Food Security Act
Abstract: Rain-fed agriculture will play a majore role in India ' s food security and sustainable economic growth, and there are large opportunities for gains from adaptation and new investments in water management for meeting the targets under the proposed National Food Security Act.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 54735
Title: Critically endangered Indian animals
Author: Jaimini Sarkar
Editor: P Balaram
Year: 2011
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 100, No 11, 10 June 2011
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: None
Abstract: None
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 54734
Title: Metabolic changes during early growth of Chichpea affected by Imazethapyr (PursuitTM)
Author: Manijeh Hoseiny-Rad, Ali-Ashraf Aivazi and Shobha Jagannath
Editor: Dr R K Trivedy
Year: 2010
Publisher: EM International, Vol 29 (4), 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Pollution Research
Keywords: Chickpea, Imazethapyr, Germination, radicle length, Plumule length
Abstract: A study was conducted to investigate the effect of herbicide Imazethapyr on germination and metabolic changes during early growth of chickpea. Five concentrations (0.5, 1, 2.5, 5 and 10 ppm) of IM was employed along with control in hydroponic condition. Shoot-root axis and cotyledon of 4, 8, 12 and 15 day old germinated seedlings were used to assess the toxic effects of IM on morphological and biochemical parameters. Though a significant decrease in the length of radicle and plumule was observed with increase in concentration of the herbicide, the percentage of seed germination was not affected. In the cotyledon of treated seedlings, total protein, total carbohydrate, and starch content were increased in line with higher doses, but reducing sugar content was in a converse pattern. In the embryonic axis, a decrease in total protein and reducing sugar was observed in response to dose increase, but total carbohydrate and starch increased way at the same condition. It could be concluded that mobilization of seed reserve was suppressed by IM as a result impaired germination and early growth was noticed. consequently, higher IM as a result impaired germination and early growth was noticed. Consequetly, higher concentration of IM resulted in decline in early growth of non-target or main crop, i.e. chickpea.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 54733
Title: Effect of BHC content in the soil on the spore count, % of infection, growth and nutrient levels in leguminous plants inoculated with a VAM fungus
Author: Anilkumar K K and G Muraleedharakurup
Editor: Dr R K Trivedy
Year: 2010
Publisher: EM International, Vol 29 (4), 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Pollution Research
Keywords: BHC, NPK, Legumes, VAM fungi
Abstract: In the present studies an attempt is made to investigate the effect of different levels of BHC an organochloride pesticids on spors count, percentage of infection and growth of Glomus mosseae a VAM fungi. The recommended rate of BHC content in the soil inhibited the mycorrhizal growth.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 54732
Title: Evaluation of a reed bed system as a tertiary treatment of coffee processing wastewater (CPWW) Evaluation of a reed bed system as a tertiary treatment of coffee processing wastewater (CPWW)
Author: M Selvamurugan, N B Nandakumar, M Maheswari and P Doraisamy
Editor: Dr R K Trivedy
Year: 2010
Publisher: EM International, Vol 29 (4), 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Pollution Research
Keywords: Coffee processing wastewater, reed bed system, COD, BOD, TS
Abstract: Coffee processing industry is one of the major small-scale sectors in India. Coffee fruits are processes by two methods viz., wet and dry process. In wet processing, coffee fruits generate enormous quantities of high strength wastewater requiring systematic treatment prior to disposal. The present study attempts to assess the effect of reed bed system as tertiary treatment of biomethanated and aerated CPWW by sub surface flow (SSF) with two local reed plants viz, Typha latifolia and Colacasia sp. The raw CPWW, biomethanated CPWW and biomethanated cum aerated CPWW were used as influent. The maximum BOD, COD and TS removal efficiency of 85.4 percent, 78.3 percent and 57.0 percent, respectively were recorded in biomethanated, aerated and reed bed treated CPWW. The finding of the study indicated the efficiency of reed bed system in treating wastewater as tertiary treatment of previously treated coffee processing wastewater by a combined Upflow Anaerobic Hybrid Reactor (UAHR) and mechanical aeration.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 54731
Title: Endosulfan induced histopathology of retina and optic nerve of Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch)
Author: G S Sandhu, N S Dhariwal and R Kaur
Editor: Dr R K Trivedy
Year: 2010
Publisher: EM International, Vol 29 (4), 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Pollution Research
Keywords: Catfish, endosulfan, Histopathology, optic nerve, Retina
Abstract: In this study, organochlorine pesticide, endosulfan induced alterations in the histostructure of retina and optic nerve were studied in freshwater catfish, Heteropneustes foosilis (Bloch) on exposure to five sublethal concentrations viz. 0.0008, 0.0012, 0.0016, 0.002 and 0.0024 mg/L of endosulfan for 30d and 45d durations. On exposure to higher concentratios of endosulfan, degeneration of retinal cell of different layers leading to vacuolation and separation of ganglion cell layer were depicted. Also, accumulation of blood cells was a consistent feature in both exposure durations. Induced pathological alterations in histoarchitecture of optic nerve included thinning of fibrous sheath, degeneration of nervous tissue and scattering of blood cells. It is suggested on the basis of the present study that endosulfan caused damage to retinal layers and optic nerve of the fish, Heterpneustes fossilis that will result in impaired image formation. This will also hamper the perception of the amount of light that falls on retina, which may in turn disturbs the regulation of reproductive cycle of the fish as well, resulting in decrease fecundity and poor fish yeild. In the wild this situation can lead to decline in fishery stock.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 54730
Title: Study of Paphia malabarica (Chemintz) from Klabadevi estuary, India, exposed to hydrogen sulphide concentrations
Author: S A Mohite and A S Mohite
Editor: Dr R K Trivedy
Year: 2010
Publisher: EM International, Vol 29 (4), 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Pollution Research
Keywords: Hydrogen sulphide, anoxia, Paphia malabarica, Kalbadevi estuary
Abstract: The estuarine clam, Paphia malabarica is a common inhabitant of the nutrient-rich coastal areas of Ratnagiri (Maharashtra, India). Present paper analyses the sulfide exposure levels of this clam, the relationship of dissolved oxygen (DO) and other water parameters with hydrogen sulphide (H2S) at two monitoring stations at the Kalbadevi estuary of Ratnagiri, Maharashtra along the west coast of India. The sediment sulphide concentrations showed a mean level of 1.75 mg l-1 at the quadrants at 10 m distance and 2.18 mg l-1 at the quadrants at 30 m distance. Sulphide concentrations varied significantly between sites (Two-way ANOVA: F(tabulated) = 3.37, F(critical) = 7.76, P = 0.001). The mean DO concentration at the quadrants at 10 m distance was 5.41 mg l-1 and at the quadrants at 30 m distance was 5.37 mg l-1. DO concentrations varied significantly between sites (Two-way ANOVA:F(tabulated) = 2.36, F(critical) = 7.76, P = 0.001). Sulphide concentrations were seen to be increasing with an associated decrease in the salinity at both the stations.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 54729
Title: Physicochemical charaacterisation of treated textile effluent and its effects of biochemical constituents of fresh water fish, Tilapia mossambica
Author: C N Noorjahan
Editor: Dr R K Trivedy
Year: 2010
Publisher: EM International, Vol 29 (4), 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Pollution Research
Keywords: textile effluent, Tilapia mossambica, Physico-chemical parameters, Protein, Carbohydrate, lipid
Abstract: The physico chemical parameters (pH, EC, BOD, COD, TD8, T88, Chromium, copper and zinc) of 100% treated textile effluent and its effects on the biochemical constituents present in the gills, liver and muscle of Tilapia mossambica were studied. The results of analysis of physico chemical parameters of 100% treated textile effluent revealed that the parameters such as pH, EC, BOD, COD, TD8, TSS were found to be higher than the permissible limits of CPCB (1995) thereby indicating the high pollutional potential of the effluent. The biochemical estimation revealed that lipid depletion was followed by carbohydrate and protein in all the three organs, i.e. gills and muscle in the decreasing trend exposed to treated textile effluent and gills were most affected compared to liver and muscle.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 54728
Title: A comparative study and analysis of water sources from Dham river of Pawnar, Maharashtra, India
Author: P V Tekade, N P Mohabansi and J R Bajoria
Editor: Dr R K Trivedy
Year: 2010
Publisher: EM International, Vol 29 (4), 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Pollution Research
Keywords: Physico-chemical parameters, Dham river, pollution
Abstract: Pawnar is located in Wardha district of Maharashtra state in India. The land in the Wardha region is highly fertile for the production of different vegetables, fruits and crops. Farmers use different types of fertilizers, pesticides and insecticides for getting higher yields.. These substances are particularly dangerous to life in rivers, streams and lakes. Hence it is was thought of interest to study the physico-chemical parameters viz., temperature, colour, turbidity, density, viscosity, surface tension, electrical conductivity, pH, DO, hardness, alkalinity, TDS, etc. The correlation between physico-chemical parameters and Indian Standard specification for drinking water were evaluated.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None