Fluorescent pseudomonads are one of the most important microbial communities which play a key role in rhizosphere to enhance plant growth-promotion and protection. The diverse groups of antibiotics ...viz. 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol (DAPG), phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA) and pyoluteorin (PLT) are produced by fluorescent pseudomonads inhibiting growth of fungal pathogens which results in health upliftment of plants. The present study, discusses about frequency and diversity of 138 antibiotic-producing fluorescent pseudomonads isolated from eight genotypes of rapeseed mustard rhizosphere (
Brassica juncea
L. Czern.). The plant growth promoting traits and antibiotics (DAPG, PCA and PLT) production of isolates were examined by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), thin layer chromatography (TLC) and dot blot-hybridization. Among 138 isolates, 47, 25 and 9 % of isolates were positive in indole production, phosphate solubilization and antagonism potential against
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum
(causal agent of white mold disease in rapeseed mustard), respectively. PCR amplifications showed that none of the isolates had
phl
D (DAPG) and
phz
C (PCA) genes, but four isolates (UKA-2, UKA-8, UKA-11, UKA-66) had
plt
B (PLT) gene, which was further confirmed by TLC and DNA dot-blot hybridization. BOX profiles of
plt
B positive isolates were distinct, showing unique genetic diversity in the small population. The four
plt
B positive fluorescent pseudomonad isolates could be used as promising bio-control and plant growth-promoting inoculants for Indian rapeseed mustard.
Brown spot disease, caused by
Bipolaris oryzae
, is one of the several disastrous diseases affecting rice. The brown spot fungus illustrates substantial pathogenic and genetic variability. To the ...best of our knowledge, extensive analysis utilizing specific SSR primers for
B. oryzae
genome is quite inadequate for the population structure and genetic diversity of Indian
B. oryzae
isolates. A total of 84 brown spot isolates were collected from rice-cultivating areas across southern and eastern Indian states, viz., Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Chhattisgarh. The pathogenicity and virulence characteristics of these isolates were assessed with the susceptible cultivar CR Dhan 201. Twelve genome-specific SSR markers of
B. oryzae
warranted the investigation of the population structure and genetic diversity among the isolates. These isolates were categorized based on their disease grade as highly virulent isolates (4 nos.), virulent isolates (8 nos.), moderately virulent isolates (47 nos.) and less virulent isolates (25 nos.). PCR amplification and DNA sequencing confirmed the isolates to be
B. oryzae.
PCR amplification and DNA sequencing confirmed the isolates to be
B. oryzae.
The SSR markers produced a total of 35 alleles with 1 to 4 alleles per locus with a gene diversity ranging between 0.00 and 0.687 and a major allele frequency variation of 0.425–0.975. The PIC value ranged from 0.00 to 0.638 having a mean value of 0.34. Cluster analysis technique was applied to group the brown spot isolates into four distinct clusters. Principal coordinate and structure analysis identified two genetic clusters of
B. oryzae
isolates for individual states with some degree of distinctness complying with their virulence. Analysis of molecular variance revealed more genetic variation within populations and less among populations. The study outcome would expedite the comprehension of genetic diversity of
B. oryzae
across the southern and eastern states of India. Furthermore, we anticipate its guidance in the development of more effective disease management strategies as well as in the generation of novel resistant varieties through marker-assisted breeding.
Display omitted
► It is hypothesized that yeasts manage toxigenic molds and Ochratoxin-A in coffee. ► Field studies were undertaken in arabica and robusta coffee. ► Natural and artificial ...contamination trials were done. ► Inoculation by commercial yeasts reduced toxigenic molds and OTA contamination. ► Cup quality was not affected in both natural and artificial contamination trials.
Global occurrence of Ochratoxin-A (OTA) in coffee has gained enormous apprehension in the coffee world trade market. Biological control has been proposed as an alternative for chemicals to reduce mold growth and mycotoxin production. It is hypothesized that yeast species can inhibit ochratoxigenic molds and OTA production in coffee. To test this hypothesis, we undertook a field study with natural and artificial contamination trials, wherein commercial yeast (
Saccharomyces cerevisiae) were used during processing of arabica parchment (AP), arabica cherry (AC), robusta parchment (RP) and robusta cherry (RC) coffee. The yeast strain was inoculated to arabica and robusta coffee at a concentration of 0.5%, 1%, 1.5% and 2% with appropriate control. Inoculation of yeast during coffee processing was found to significantly reduce total mold incidence (
Aspergillus niger,
Aspergillus ochraceus) and OTA contamination in both the parchment and cherry of arabica and robusta without affecting the cup quality in both natural and artificial contamination trials. Significant correlation occurred in the incidence of
A. ochraceus and OTA contamination in AP (
r
=
0.99), AC (
r
=
0.93), RP (
r
=
0.93) and RC (
r
=
0.94) as compared to total molds and incidence of
A. niger and OTA level. The results of the present study clearly indicates a promising antagonistic and biocontrol potential of commercial yeasts in reducing the ochratoxigenic mold incidence and OTA contamination in coffee beans during on-farm processing. Use of yeast culture in coffee processing was found to be an affordable and cost effective approach in the management of
A. ochraceus and OTA in parchment and cherry coffee preparation.
Ni(II) ions removal using maghemite nanoparticle on bentonite-clay was investigated. Adsorbent was synthesized using the sol-gel method characterized by the surface area Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller ...(BET), scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-Ray spectrometer, transmission electron microscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, and zero-point-charge. Experiments were done as a function of solute concentration and temperature. Various kinetic models were evaluated and effective diffusion coefficient, activation energy, and entropy of activation were determined. The adsorption isotherm data were fitted to the Langmuir and Freundlich equations, and the Langmuir adsorption capacity was found to be 114.9 mg/g. These results showed that the adsorbent is an attractive option for Ni(II) removal.
The millions of food insecure people in India are not solely due to inadequate food production, but also because some people are simply too poor to buy food. This study assessed how a large-scale ...conversion from conventional to organic production would impact on the economics of marginal and small farmers in Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh, and on the total food production in these states. This study also considered a situation where fertilizer subsidies would be discontinued, with farmers having to carry the full cost of fertilizer. Results show that conversion to organic improved the economic situation of farmers although food production was reduced by 3–5% in the organic situation. Thus, the estimated economic values were higher in the organic system (5–40% in fertilizer subsidy scenario and 22–132% in no fertilizer subsidy scenario) than in the conventional system, whereas the total state-level food productions were lowered by 3–5% in the organic compared to the conventional system. Food production was higher when rainfed, and lower in the irrigated situation in the large-scale organic scenario. Although the study addresses short-term perspectives of large-scale conversion to organic farming, more research is needed to understand the long-term impact of organic conversion on food production, nutrient supply, food security and poverty reduction.
Adsorbents prepared from pistachio nut shell, an agricultural waste biomass, were successfully used to remove Acid Violet 17 from an aqueous solution. The activated carbons PNS1, PNS2, and PNS3 were ...characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier Transform - Infra Red spectroscopy (FTIR) and (BET). The effect of pH, adsorbent dosage, and temperature on dye removal was studied. Maximum color removal was observed at pH 2. The adsorption increased with the increase in adsorbent dosage. As the adsorption capacity increased with the increase in temperature, the process was concluded to be endothermic. The experimental data were analyzed by the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models of adsorption. Equilibrium data fitted well with the Langmuir model. The rates of adsorption confirmed the pseudo-second order kinetics with good correlation values. The results indicated that the activated carbon prepared from pistachio nut shell can be effectively used for the removal of Acid Violet 17 from aqueous solution.
There is an increased understanding that the challenges of producing enough food and biomass while preserving soil, water and biodiversity necessary for ecosystem services can not be solved by ...prevalent types of conventional agriculture and that agro-ecological approaches and ecological intensification is fundamental for our future food production. FAO has stated that “Ecosystem services sustain agricultural productivity and resilience” and advocates production intensification through ecosystem management. Terminologies such as agro-ecology and ecological/ eco-functional/sustainable intensification are being proposed for agricultural development, which builds on higher input of knowledge, observation skills and management and improved use of agro-ecological methods. Contrary, increased global demand for food, and non-food biomass has increased the pressure for intensifying land use and increasing crop yields based on conventional inputs, while still aiming at reducing environmental impact. There is a battle of discourse between these approaches in competition for – among others – research and development funding. The examples of improved local food security from introducing agro-ecological and low external input agriculture practices among smallholder farmers are many. However, upscaling remains a challenge and the ability of such eco-functional intensification to feed the increased urban populations in emerging economies remains an open question. A broader view of what is organic and conventional farming is necessary and the use of new understandings from ecology and molecular biology will be needed to create and profit from synergies between preserving and building on eco-systems services and providing increased food and biomass.
The technology for the production of neem oil coated urea (NOCU) developed by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute is in the pipeline for adaption by several Indian fertilizer industries. Use ...of nitrification inhibitors is one of the methods of improving the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of nitrogenous fertilizers in agriculture. However, standard specifications for the neem oil as a raw material of NOCU are desired. Accordingly, the present study was undertaken to evaluate 25 samples of neem oils comprising 11 samples of expeller grade (EG) oils, 8 samples of cold-pressed (CP) oils, 3 samples of solvent-extracted oils, and 2 commercial formulations. NOCU was prepared using these oils (5000 ppm of urea-N). The soils fertilized with NOCUs (200 ppm of urea-N) were incubated at 27 C and 50% water-holding capacity for a period of 15 days. Nitrapyrin (0.5% of N) coated urea served as the reference and prilled urea as control. Samples were analyzed for NH4+-N, NO2--N, and NO3--N using standard methods. The percent nitrification inhibition (NI) was calculated, and the results revealed that all of the neem oils caused NI ranging from 4.0 to 30.9%. Two samples of EG oils and two commercial formulations were found to be the best, causing 27.0-30.9% NI. Iodine, acid, and saponification values and meliacin content of all of the oils were analyzed and correlated with NI. The results revealed the direct influence of meliacin content of the neem oils on NI, which, however, was found to be negatively correlated with saponification and iodine values. There is, therefore, a need to introduce new Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specifications for neem oils as raw materials of NOCU.
In today’s internet age, social networking sites are playing an important role in disseminating the information across the age, in-fact it has given the new dimension in communication technology. ...Social networking sites facilitate in transforming the information with multimedia content, which exciting the users. Being the information and resource centre, the library has to tie with their customers to utilize the library systems and services effectively, for which social networking sites are supporting a large. Many public libraries are doing short message service (SMS) for book alert, reference and other current awareness services. One of the biggest public libraries in the state capital has vibrant library portal through which they are providing various online services. Also, most of the libraries are having online resources in its collections, and hence connecting with their customers is order of the day. This study was conducted to investigate the usage of social networking sites among the library professionals in Tamil Nadu region.
PDF
